magine the benefits for our society at large – if:

●There was a way to determine and monitor risk for brain disease at various points in our lives through a blood test or picture of our brains.

●People could be taught how to engage in and sustain lifestyle behaviors that support their brain health, and communities could be modified in order to make unhealthy behaviors difficult and healthy behaviors easy.

●Behaviors that promote brain health were a community norm and people worked together to support each other in achieving brain healthy common goals.

●We knew specifically when during the course of development such efforts would be most impactful for building brain health and preventing brain disease.

Imagine a world where infants are born with fewer neurodevelopment issues and school-aged children exhibit less learning and behavioral issues. Where teenagers don’t struggle with addiction, and depression rates decrease among young adults. Where getting older doesn’t mean slowing down.

With innovation generated by the BHI, we’d be able to create that world: decreasing suicide rates and increasing life fulfillment, improving productivity and achievement, while promoting well-being.

BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN BRAIN HEALTH

The impact of this work can be felt across all community sectors and across the lifespan. A dedicated focus on brain health has the potential to remedy issues surrounding physical and mental well-being, to enhance education, arts and culture, to revolutionize science for future generations, to aid in elderly care, and more!

Arts and Culture

Arts and culture have a positive impact on brain health and are a vehicle to much of the core work of the BHI.  Arts and culture contribute to enhancing brain health, to optimizing brain performance and to fighting brain illness or rehabilitation from brain illness across the lifespan. For example, the experience, expression and appreciation of Arts and Culture is linked to increased self-efficacy, self-esteem, and health benefits ranging from improved immune function to better grades and nurture protective factors that can reduce ACEs and their impacts.

Charitable Giving/Volunteerism

Philanthropic giving and other altruistic behaviors, such as volunteerism, can reduce stress, negative emotions, foster a sense of belonging, and decrease feelings of isolation. Gift-giving promotes empathy, helping people feel more connected to others, and putting their own issues into perspective. People who volunteer are less likely to be depressed. Gratitude for a healthy life encourages generosity. Promoting brain health can also promote continued philanthropy across the life course.

Child Development and Education

All children/students deserve to be healthy, happy and successful in the classroom, and brain health can play a key role in helping them reach their full potential. Investing in brain health and performance in early life can support optimal brain development and improve cognitive skills, academic performance, classroom behavior, and community engagement, while also decreasing childhood obesity, high school dropout rates, absenteeism, school nurse visits, and mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and addictions.

Community Engagement

There is well-established evidence supporting the link between good brain health in individuals and increased safety and wellbeing of the community. Brain health can increase community engagement by promoting better connections between neighbors, greater participation in community activities, and enhanced interest in the quality of life of the community as a whole.

Elite Performance

Brain processes play a key role in sports performance, and there is a well-established connection between positive brain health and elite performance. Elite performance is also a high-stress activity that needs to be met with good brain health. A focus on brain health could strengthen the abilities of the elite performance community.

Physical and Mental Health

Brain health is inextricably linked to physical and mental wellbeing. Therefore, efforts to promote brain health can prevent and improve suffering from numerous chronic health problems. Promoting brain health and performance means healthier communities and lower healthcare costs.

Play and Recreation

There is a well-established connection between exercise, recreation, and brain health and performance. Recreation has positive effects on physical health, as well as mood and cognitive functioning. Improved brain health, in turn, can increase participation in recreation, thereby creating a virtuous cycle.

Brain health is essential for a long, happy, and productive life. Its impact is far-ranging, extending beyond our individual selves to our local, national, and global communities. A healthy brain seeks solutions and solves problems. It enables us to think, act, and make the world a better place. Our future depends on optimal brain health.

Science and Innovation

Scientific evidence is increasingly identifying the importance of brain health to overall health and wellbeing across the lifespan. Long-term brain health studies are needed to identify factors linked to brain health at all ages, develop effective programs and interventions, and uncover the effects of positive brain health on health, wellness, and functioning. Our research will establish brain healthy communities as hubs of brain health and performance innovation.

Senior Care

Given an increasingly aging population, efforts to prevent expensive brain health-related disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease, can significantly reduce public health costs. Investing in the most effective brain health and performance programs can also help make the delivery of senior care more efficient and effective.

Spirituality and Faith

There is considerable evidence linking brain health—including good mental health and cognitive functioning—to involvement in religious and spiritual communities. Given the powerful role that faith communities can play in individuals’ lives, religious and spiritual communities are also well-positioned to promote brain health.

Workplace

Healthy employees are also better employees; they are more engaged, productive, and creative. Healthy employees not only contribute to the health of a company’s bottom line productivity, culture and savings, but also to the larger society.

Brain health is essential for a long, happy, and productive life. Its impact is far-ranging, extending beyond our individual selves to our local, national, and global communities. A healthy brain seeks solutions and solves problems. It enables us to think, act, and make the world a better place. Our future depends on optimal brain health.